AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 vs NVIDIA Tesla K10 Comparison

AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 and NVIDIA Tesla K10 are both end-of-life graphics products, but they occupy vastly different positions in the hardware landscape. The Vega 11 is a 12 nm integrated graphics processor from AMD’s Picasso generation, while the Tesla K10 is a 28 nm dual-GPU compute card from NVIDIA’s Kepler era. The benchmark data available for direct comparison is limited to a single OpenCL test, but the surrounding specifications and relative performance percentiles provide a clear picture of their respective strengths.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison in the data is the Geekbench OpenCL test. Here, the NVIDIA Tesla K10 scores 14,029, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 scores 12,525. This gives the Tesla K10 a win with a delta of -10.7% relative to the Vega 11, meaning the Vega 11 trails by 10.7% in this specific workload. This is a significant margin, indicating that in raw compute throughput as measured by OpenCL, the older dual-GPU Tesla card holds a clear advantage.

However, the picture is more nuanced when examining the broader benchmark landscape. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 has three additional benchmark scores: 17,086 in Geekbench Metal, 13,543 in Geekbench Vulkan, and the aforementioned 12,525 in OpenCL. Its average benchmark score across all tests is 14,385. The Tesla K10, with only its OpenCL score of 14,029, has an average of exactly that number. Thus, while the Tesla K10 wins the head-to-head OpenCL comparison, the Vega 11’s average score across multiple APIs is higher, at 14,385 versus 14,029. This suggests that the Vega 11 is more versatile across different graphics and compute interfaces.

Looking at the nearest rivals for each product further contextualizes these scores. The Vega 11’s average score of 14,385 places it just 0.1% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN (14,373) and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon Vega 11 (14,352). It is also 0.5% ahead of the Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics (14,315). The Tesla K10’s average of 14,029 puts it 0.9% behind the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 (14,150) but 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 570X (13,871). These deltas show that both products sit in a similar performance tier relative to their contemporaries, despite the Tesla K10’s clear win in the sole direct comparison.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Tesla K10 wins decisively in the single available head-to-head OpenCL benchmark. This is likely due to its design as a dedicated compute accelerator with a massive number of shading units (1,536) and a high memory bandwidth of 160.0 GB/s. The data indicates that in pure OpenCL compute tasks, the Tesla K10 is the stronger performer, delivering a 10.7% higher score than the Vega 11.

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11, however, wins in overall versatility. Its average benchmark score of 14,385 across three different APIs (Metal, OpenCL, and Vulkan) is higher than the Tesla K10’s single-score average of 14,029. The Vega 11 also supports a more modern API feature set, including DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3, whereas the Tesla K10 only reaches DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. This suggests the Vega 11 is better suited for a broader range of modern applications and graphics workloads, even if it loses in the specific OpenCL test.

Furthermore, the Vega 11 has a higher percentile ranking among all GPUs at 56, compared to the Tesla K10’s 55. While this is a small difference, it indicates that the Vega 11 outperforms a slightly larger fraction of the overall GPU population across its tested benchmarks. The Vega 11 also has a lower transistor density advantage, but more importantly, it operates as an IGP with system-shared memory, making it a fundamentally different product class than the Tesla K10’s dedicated 4 GB GDDR5 frame buffer.

Architecture Differences

The architectural differences between these two GPUs are stark. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 is built on the GCN 5.0 architecture using a 12 nm process node at GlobalFoundries. It integrates 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 23.5M per mm². It has 704 shading units, 44 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs. Its base clock is 300 MHz with a boost clock of 1400 MHz. The memory is system-shared, meaning it uses the host system’s RAM, with bandwidth described as “System Dependent.” The Vega 11 supports FP16 compute at 3.942 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio) and FP32 at 1.971 TFLOPS.

In contrast, the NVIDIA Tesla K10 is based on the Kepler architecture, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It has fewer transistors (3,540 million) but a larger die size (294 mm²), resulting in a lower transistor density of 12.0M per mm². The Tesla K10 is a dual-GPU card, which is why it packs 1,536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Its memory configuration is a dedicated 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, providing a fixed bandwidth of 160.0 GB/s. The memory clock is listed at 1250 MHz, with 5 Gbps effective speed. The Tesla K10 does not list a base or boost clock in the data, nor does it have FP16 capabilities, only FP32 at 2.289 TFLOPS.

The Tesla K10’s advantage in raw pixel and texture rates is evident: 23.84 GPixel/s and 95.36 GTexel/s, respectively, compared to the Vega 11’s 11.20 GPixel/s and 61.60 GTexel/s. The Tesla K10 also has a much higher TDP at 225 W versus the Vega 11’s 15 W, reflecting its dual-GPU compute-oriented design versus an integrated graphics solution. The bus interface differs as well: the Vega 11 is an IGP with motherboard-dependent outputs, while the Tesla K10 is a dual-slot PCIe 3.0 x16 card with no display outputs at all.

The Verdict

From the data, the choice between these two is clear based on use case. The NVIDIA Tesla K10 is the superior choice for dedicated compute workloads that rely on OpenCL performance and high memory bandwidth. Its 10.7% lead in the Geekbench OpenCL test, combined with its dedicated 4 GB GDDR5 memory and 160.0 GB/s bandwidth, makes it a more capable raw compute engine. Its higher FP32 throughput (2.289 TFLOPS) and pixel/texture rates further reinforce this position. The Tesla K10 is for users who need a compute card with no display output, operating as a pure accelerator.

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 is the better pick for general-purpose graphics and modern API support. Its higher average benchmark score (14,385 vs 14,029) across Metal, OpenCL, and Vulkan indicates broader software compatibility. It supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3, while the Tesla K10 only supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. The Vega 11 also has a higher percentile ranking (56th vs 55th) and consumes dramatically less power (15 W vs 225 W). As an IGP with system-shared memory, it is suitable for systems where a dedicated card is not an option. The data shows the Vega 11 is a more modern, versatile solution, while the Tesla K10 is a specialized compute accelerator with a specific, narrow strength.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 has a higher average benchmark score of 14,385, compared to the NVIDIA Tesla K10’s average of 14,029.

Q: How much faster is the NVIDIA Tesla K10 in the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The Tesla K10 scores 14,029 versus the Vega 11’s 12,525, giving it a 10.7% lead in that specific test.

Q: What are the memory configurations of the two GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA Tesla K10 has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 160.0 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 uses system-shared memory with bandwidth described as “System Dependent.”

Q: Which GPU supports a newer version of Vulkan?

A: The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 supports Vulkan 1.3, while the NVIDIA Tesla K10 supports Vulkan 1.2.175.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 has a TDP of 15 W, while the NVIDIA Tesla K10 has a TDP of 225 W.

Q: Does either GPU have FP16 support?

A: Yes, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 supports FP16 at 3.942 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio). The NVIDIA Tesla K10 does not list FP16 capabilities.

Specification Differences

The key specification differences between the two GPUs are as follows:

• Process Node: AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 is 12 nm; NVIDIA Tesla K10 is 28 nm.
• Foundry: AMD uses GlobalFoundries; NVIDIA uses TSMC.
• Transistors: AMD has 4,940 million; NVIDIA has 3,540 million.
• Die Size: AMD is 210 mm²; NVIDIA is 294 mm².
• Transistor Density: AMD is 23.5M / mm²; NVIDIA is 12.0M / mm².
• Shading Units: AMD has 704; NVIDIA has 1,536.
• TMUs: AMD has 44; NVIDIA has 128.
• ROPs: AMD has 8; NVIDIA has 32.
• Clock Speed (Base/Boost): AMD lists 300 MHz base and 1400 MHz boost; NVIDIA lists no base or boost clocks.
• Memory Size/Type/Bus: AMD uses System Shared; NVIDIA uses 4 GB GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus.
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD is System Dependent; NVIDIA is 160.0 GB/s.
• FP32 Performance: AMD is 1.971 TFLOPS; NVIDIA is 2.289 TFLOPS.
• FP16 Performance: AMD is 3.942 TFLOPS (2:1); NVIDIA is not listed.
• Pixel Rate: AMD is 11.20 GPixel/s; NVIDIA is 23.84 GPixel/s.
• Texture Rate: AMD is 61.60 GTexel/s; NVIDIA is 95.36 GTexel/s.
• TDP: AMD is 15 W; NVIDIA is 225 W.
• Slot Width: AMD is IGP; NVIDIA is Dual-slot.
• Power Connectors: AMD has None; NVIDIA has 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin.
• Suggested PSU: AMD has none listed; NVIDIA is 550 W.
• Bus Interface: AMD is IGP; NVIDIA is PCIe 3.0 x16.
• Display Outputs: AMD is Motherboard Dependent; NVIDIA has No outputs.
• DirectX Support: AMD is 12 (12_1); NVIDIA is 12 (11_0).
• Vulkan Support: AMD is 1.3; NVIDIA is 1.2.175.
• Release Date: AMD is July 6, 2019; NVIDIA is April 30, 2012.
• Launch MSRP: AMD has none listed; NVIDIA is 5,099 USD.